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The following navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. Left and right arrows move through main tier links and expand / close menus in sub tiers. Up and Down arrows will open main tier menus and toggle through sub tier links. Enter and space open menus and escape closes them as well. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items.

Reminder: Temporary Suspension of Orange Line Service This Weekend

April 17, 2014

Work begins on the $25M 18th Street Connector Rehabilitation project; free bus shuttle to operate between Halsted and Roosevelt stations

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will begin major rehabilitative work this weekend on the elevated Orange Line structure known as the 18th Street Connector, which connects Orange Lines trains to the Loop. To perform this work, train service between the Halsted and Roosevelt Orange Line stations will be temporarily suspended this weekend – the first of five weekend-only service disruptions scheduled through early June.

Beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 18, until the start of service at 4 a.m. on Monday, April 21, Orange Line trains will not operate between the Halsted and Roosevelt stations. For customers who need to travel between these two adjacent stations, a free bus shuttle will be provided along with free transfers back into rail stations to resume the remainder of their trips.

The shuttles will run continuously during normal weekend Orange Line service hours and will be able to accommodate all passengers. Customers are strongly encouraged to allow approximately 15 minutes of extra travel time when traveling to/from the Loop via the Orange Line this weekend.

Constructed more than 45 years ago, components of the structure are now beyond their useful life and are in need of replacement or significant repairs. Crews will perform track renewal work (the replacement of worn rail ties and components), which will result in smoother and more reliable service for Orange Line customers. Additional work will include painting and waterproofing the structure that will mitigate leaking water from the structure, which had created icy conditions in adjacent parking lots and alleyways during the winter months.

Additional weekend-only track closures are scheduled for May 2-4, May 16-19, May 23-26 and May 30-June2. Work will begin each Friday at 10 p.m. and conclude by 4 a.m. the following Monday. Weekend work will also require partial closures of State Street and/or full or partial closures of 18th Street. Residents and local businesses will receive notice ahead of closures.

The 18th Street Connector project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation funds and tax-increment financing (TIF) made available through Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Neighborhoods Now and is part of a larger $92 million investment in Near South Side transportation options announced by Mayor Emanuel last August. Other investments aimed at revitalizing the area include the construction of the $50 million Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station and the rehabilitation of the Roosevelt ($7 million) and Harrison ($10 million) stations on the Red Line.